Lopsided Indiangrass
Sorghastrum secundum
Lopsided Indiangrass is naturally found in moist areas of our pine flatwoods. The Rocklands of Everglades National Park are swaying with the seed stalks of this beautiful grass in late September. Some of the moist pineland preserves in Palm Beach County have clumps here and there.
The plant has a nice full mat of leaves only two feet tall, similar to a Florida Gama Grass, for most of the year. When it flowers in late September, the stalks rise to five or six feet and have seeds on one side of the top portion. These are golden colored and shimmer in the wind.
Unfortunately they only last about a month before dropping. Some pulling of old leaves may be necessary. I usually burn mine each year, although one year I managed to kill them with this method.
This grass will last for years and makes a nice component to a landscape mimicking a moist pineland. Try mixing with other pineland species like Silkgrass, Florida Lily, Chapman’s Goldenrod, Lovegrass, Splitbeard Bluestem, Pineland Dropseed, Rattlesnake Master, Pineland Petunia, Snow Squarestem, Thistle and Coreopsis.
For drier areas around this that don’t flood, mix with Chapman’s Cassia, Native Porterweed, Silverpalm, Winged Sumac, and Coontie.